New CentraL Library Moves to Bid Stage
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November 17
In a 6-2 vote, the San Diego City Council today moved the new Central Library project forward by putting the project out for construction bid. This vote came on a second reading of the ordinance before the Council and confirms the 6-2 positive vote the Council took at its October 27 meeting.
“With all the investment that’s been made and so many years of this, I think that we owe almost a duty to the people who have dedicated so many years and so much money to find out what this would cost,” Council Mmeber Marti Emerald said in supporting the bid in Ocotober.
A 2005 cost estimate placed construction costs at $184.9 million. Turner Construction will now return next year with a guaranteed construction bid on the project.
San Diego Public Library Foundation Chair Judith C. Harris urged the Council to move forward. “Our contributors believe enough to donate $37.5 million in private money for this project. The State of California believes in us enough to hold $20 million for us for seven years. The San Diego Unified School District believes in us enough to dedicate $20 million. I'm asking you, please, share the same faith. Believe in your volunteers. Believe in your city,” said Mrs. Harris.
In Ocotober, a crowd of Library supporters packed the Council chambers to voice their support. A group of 60 students from Kipp Adelante Preparatory Academy were among those supporting the vote. "Downtown students and library users deserve a new facility," said Kipp Adelante eighth grader Gina Rios in her comments to Council.
To read San Diego Union-Tribune coverage of the vote VISIT HERE, San Diego News Network coverage VISIT HERE and KPBS coverage VISIT HERE.
To receive regular email updates on this and other key Library issues, be sure to join the Friends Advocacy Network, by VISITING HERE.
For more information on this project, VISIT HERE.
